Alumni donation funds formative research experiences for undergraduates

Many years into his successful career in chemical engineering, alumnus Mark Halperin, E72, recalls the importance of his early research experiences at Tufts University. Attending an R-1 University with very high levels of research activity means that Tufts undergraduates can participate in research at the earliest stages of their education. This summer, the Halperin family, together with Peter, E83, and Denise Wittich, A20P, EG20P, EG21P, provided support for five undergraduate students to pursue full-time research in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

The Department selected five chemical engineering undergraduates to join different labs from a pool of many applicants. Their involvement in the lab inspired each of them to pursue future research while contributing to meaningful projects with implications in sustainability, clean water, and human health.  

Hands-on experiences shape students’ futures

The Halperin family and Wittich family’s generosity supported Agustina Leiva, E28, in her first time working in a university research lab. “I’ve discovered that I truly enjoy this kind of work and can see myself pursuing research as part of my career path,” Leiva said. She spent the summer in Associate Professor Nik Nair’s lab improving an enzyme that could treat phenylketonuria, an inherited genetic disorder that can result in intellectual disability, seizures, and other complications. Leiva built technical skills through tasks like handling DNA plasmids and preparing proteins for testing. As she learned how to conduct research, she also gained an understanding of how to operate in a lab environment.

The opportunity came at the perfect time for Stacey Liang, E26, to cultivate her interest in a potential senior thesis project. Over the summer she plunged headfirst into catalysis research with Associate Professor Prashant Deshlahra. She contributed to some experimental projects but mainly focused on identifying catalysts for improved ammonia production. Ammonia is necessary for many industrial processes such as fertilizer production, refrigeration, and chemical manufacturing but requires high temperatures between 400-500 degrees Celsius (750-900 Fahrenheit) to create. Liang helped develop an iron-based catalyst that could produce ammonia at lower temperatures which would require less energy consumption. Reflecting on her summer in a letter to the Halperins and Wittiches, she wrote, “This experience has strengthened my computational and experimental skills, deepened my understanding of catalyst kinetics, and inspired me to continue this work as my senior thesis project.”

Timothy Sullivan, E27, found his time in Professor Ayse Asatekin’s lab inspiring and plans to continue research beyond his undergraduate years. In the Asatekin lab, Sullivan created new polymer membranes for improved wastewater treatment. He formed a membrane from two oppositely charged polymers, resulting in small pores and a rigid structure that could filter out particles as small as one nanometer. With some further development, the membrane could be used to filter agricultural runoff with high nitrogen levels or strain organic matter from wastewater in the food industry. “After having this experience, I am very motivated to pursue a graduate degree and continue researching these methods to make a tangible impact in the field of separations and clean water,” he shared.

Making an impact on the lab and the wider world

At Tufts, undergraduate students are an essential part of the lab ecosystem. They have time to pursue additional work that the lab may not have the capacity to undertake without their support. As such, several of the students assisted with other experiments beyond their main project. Their work can also build the foundation for future experimentation. For example, Nathan Lee, E27, examined the adsorption of a hydrophobic dye called Coomassie Blue to SMBS, a novel zwitterionic molecule. His efforts in Associate Professor Hyunmin Yi’s lab laid the groundwork for future experiments on the use of SBMS in pollution remediation.

As with most chemical engineering work, the students’ day-to-day tasks were focused on the minutia of specific chemical processes. While their work often took place at the microscopic level, each of their projects held larger real-world applications. Liam Lawrence, E27, measured fluorescence spectra to determine the electrolyte solubility for lithium metal batteries. His work addressed a common sticking point in battery development: the solid electrolyte interface (SEI). As batteries age, they go through electrolyte degradation which affects their performance and longevity. The SEI barrier protects batteries against electrolyte degradation leading to stronger and longer lasting batteries. More effective SEI could enable more efficient batteries. His efforts contributed to Assistant Professor Graham Leverick’s Lab, where researchers build knowledge of electrolytes to unlock next-generation batteries and electrochemical devices.

Tufts connections support growth

Many labs at Tufts foster close relationships among undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff who work together on research. Ph.D. student Bec Condruti cultivated a close mentorship with Leiva as she helped Leiva navigate her first time in the lab. Speaking about Condruti, Leiva wrote, “She has been an incredible mentor—always willing to teach me, answer my questions, and guide me step by step.” Sullivan’s graduate student mentor, Ph.D. student Nikan Mokarinezhad, walked him through how to cast and treat new membranes. Lawrence recalls meeting frequently with Assistant Professor Leverick who helped him understand the context of his research. Through sharing technical knowledge and wisdom from their own research experience, the faculty members and lab mates provided a supportive environment for each of the students to discover their passions.

Like the students he supported this past summer, Mark Halperin, E72, earned his degree in chemical engineering at Tufts. He is the owner and CEO of Pfaltz & Bauer Inc., a chemical company that was originally founded in 1900 and purchased by Halperin in 1996. The company provides hard-to-find research, laboratory, and production chemicals to industry, governments, and academic partners. Halperin has also been a member of the Tufts Chemical Engineering Advisory Board for over twenty years, and spent 5 of them as Chair. The Halperin family’s willingness to support undergraduate research speaks to Mark’s own formative experiences at Tufts.

Peter Wittich, E83, has served on the School of Engineering’s Board of Advisors since 2016. He and his wife Denise are also parents of two Tufts alumni, and they support many areas of the university including through their endowed professorship. 

The students and department are all incredibly grateful for their support. “The funds have made it possible for students to integrate their curricular knowledge with critical thinking to engage in innovative research tackling a broad spectrum of significant issues,” shared Professor and Department Chair Emmanuel Tzanakakis. The students each echoed Tzanakakis’ sentiment in letters to the Halperin and Wittich families. As Liang wrote to the Halperin family, “Your contribution has allowed me to grow as a scientist and pursue meaningful work that has the potential for real-world impact.”